Richmond Council is calling upon borough residents to submit their nominations for the 2022 Community Heroes Awards.

The awards programme is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people in Richmond upon Thames who have gone above and beyond to make a difference within their community.

For 2022, there are 10 award categories to nominate within which are as followed:

• Business contribution in the community: To recognise local businesses that have demonstrated commitment to their local area.
• Communities together: To recognise a community group, charity or organisation that has made a significant contribution to connecting people across our community, breaking down existing barriers or making Richmond upon Thames a fairer, more inclusive borough.
• Community group of the year: To recognise the groups that exemplify what can be done to make a difference when people work together.
• Community project of the year: To recognise the projects and initiatives that have improved our borough and helped its local communities – run by individuals, groups or voluntary organisations.
• Environmental award: To recognise individuals, projects and groups that have made great strides toward tackling climate change and environmental issues specifically.
• Helping hands: To recognise individuals, not in association with a group, charity or organisation, who help to create stronger communities by supporting others to live happy, healthy lives. This could be a good neighbour, someone who gives their time to help family or friends in need or a caregiver.
• Lifetime achievement: To recognise those who have shown a long-term commitment to voluntary work and have made a significant contribution to their communities over ten or more years.
• Outstanding volunteer: To recognise individuals who have made a significant impact to their community volunteering with a group, charity or organisation.
• Trustee of the year: To recognise the trustee of a group or charity who has gone above and beyond in their role.
• Young person achievement: To recognise the young people (under 18 years) who inspire and drive change in their communities, and who act as role models for their peers.

Cllr Nancy Baldwin, Vice Chair of Richmond Council's Finance, Policy and Resource Committee and Spokesperson for Communities, Equalities & the Voluntary Sector said: "It is wonderful to live in a borough where so many people are dedicated to helping others and improving their communities, and there has been no better example of this than through the challenges brought by 2022.

"Our communities have rallied to offer an unprecedented amount of support to both new and old neighbours through extremely difficult experiences like the cost of living crisis and war in Ukraine. The people who go an extra mile without expecting anything in return deserve to be recognised and celebrated.

"Whether it is a young person who has inspired their peers, someone who gives their time to help those in need, or a group working together to preserve our local environment - it is important to thank and celebrate the generous individuals or groups behind their good deeds, so get involved and nominate them for a Community Hero Award."

Residents have until Wednesday 1 March 2023 to submit their nominations which will be followed by an awards ceremony for shortlisted candidates on 25 April 2023.

Nominees should be nominated for their work in a voluntary capacity only.

Richmond Council received 107 nominations across the 11 categories for the 2021 awards.

Amongst the winners was Crossroads Care Richmond & Kingston which was crowned the Communities Together winner, Food for Thought Heathfield, crowned Community project of the year and Meet & Deep Newsagents which won Business contribution in the community for 2021.

To access further information on the Community Heroes Awards and to submit your nominations, visit the link HERE